Boat-propelling mechanism.



No. 664,543; Patehted Dec. 25, I900. J. n. n. aenxsu.

BOAT PBOPELLING MECHANISM.

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No. 664,543. Patented Dec. 25,1900L Jryu n znxeu; v

BOAT PRO PELLING MECHANISM.

( Applicntion flied Aqg. 3, 1900.)

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHANN HENRY D. GERKEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BOAT-PRQPELLING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,543, dated December25, 1900.

Application filed August 3, 1900. Serial No. 25,834. (No model.)

To all whom may; concern:

Be it known that I, JOHANN HENRY DEA- DERICH GERKEN,aCltizen of theUnited States, residing at New York, inthe county of New York and Stateof New York, have invented new and useful Improvements inBoat-Propelling Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and usefu improvements in row-boats; andits primary object is to provide a device of this character having meanswhereby the same may be readily propelled manually bythe operator whilefacing the bow of the boat.

A further object is to provide a device of simple construction which maybe readily attached to row-boats of various forms.

To these ends the invention consists in providin g a bracket between thehorizontal members of which are journaled horizontal gears which meshwith each other and to one of which is seen red a lever adapted to begrasped by the operator. To the remaining gear is secured anoutwardly-extending arm, tothe outer end of which is pivoted a bladewhich is adapted to feather when drawn toward the bow of the boat, butwhich will remain in an upright position when the motion thereof isreversed. The bracket, together with the parts secured to it, is securedto the gunwale of the boat.

The invention also consists in the further novel construction andcombination of parts hereinafter more fully described, and illustratedin the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,and in which I Figure 1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is an end elevation. Fig.3 is a detail view of a bracket, a gear, and a bolt detached. Fig. 4 isa detail view of a blade and its arm, and Fig. 5

is a section through a portion of a bracket and a gear mounted thereon.

Referring to said figures by numerals of reference, 1 is a boat, to thegunwales 2 of which are secured brackets 3 of peculiar construction.Each of these brackets is formed of two parallel members 4, connected attheir ends, as at 5. Feet 6 extend from the ends of one of the portions4 and are perforated to receive suitable securing means. Each of theportions 4 is provided with two perforations 7, which are adapted toreceive bolts 8. These bolts extend thereth rough into engagement withthe side of the boat, and each serves as a bearing for a gear 9, whichis mounted between the portions 4. These gears each have sleeves 10extending from the faces thereof, which prevent longitudinal move mentupon the bolts 8. The gears within each bracket mesh with each other atall times, and a lever 11 is secured to one of them and extends for asuitable distance into the boat. Extending outward from the second gear,within the bracket, is an arm 12. This arm is preferably formed of twosimilar strips of metal 13, held apart and braced by blocks 14 and whichare bent downward at a suitable inclination from the gear to which theyare secured. This gear is preferably secured between the ends of thestrips 13 by means of bolts or in any desired manner. The outer end ofeach arm is bent downward, as at 15, and mounted within said ends is ancar 16, which extends upward from and is secured to a blade 17. A tongue18 is formed with the end 15 of one of the strips 13 and extends infront of the car 16, so as to prevent forward movement thereof upon itspivot.

It will be seen that when the levers 11 are drawn toward the stern ofthe boat the arms 12 will be swung in the same direction. As the blades17 cannot swing forward upon their pivots, it is obvious that the boatwill be forced forward by the backward movement thereof. When thelevers11 are pushed forward, the arms 12 will also swing toward the bow andcause the blades 17 to swing upon their pivots and feather in the water.

I In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of myinvention; butI do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware thatmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit orsacrificing the advantageslthereof, and I therefore reserve the right tomake such changes and alterations as may fairly fall within the scope ofmy invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a boat; of a bracket secured thereto andcomprising parallel portions, bolts passing through said portions andadapted to secure the bracket in position, meshing gears upon the bolts,sleeves to the gears adapted to prevent the vertical movement thereof, alever secured to one of the gears, an arm secured to the remaining gearand comprising parallel strips, blocks secured therebet-ween, a blade,an ear thereto pivoted between the strips, and means upon one of thestrips for limiting the movement of the ears.

2. A propelling mechanism for boats comprising a bracket, feet extendingtherefrom, bolts passing through the bracket, meshing gears upon thebolts, sleeves upon the gears J. HENRY D. GERKEN.

Witnesses:

HUGH J. DOWNING, FRED. F. HUBER, Jr.

